Morocco Morocco. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Rabat, Morocco

Plant and animal life

Outside the desert areas, the vegetation of Morocco resembles that of the Iberian Peninsula. Extensive forests are still found in the more humid mountainous areas, with cork oak, evergreen oak, and deciduous oak on the lower slopes and fir and cedar at higher elevations, particularly in the Middle Atlas. In drier mountain areas open forests of thuja, juniper, and Aleppo (Pinus halepensis) and maritime pine are common. East of Rabat is the extensive cork oak Mamora Forest. Eucalyptus, originally from Australia, was introduced by French authorities during the colonial period for reforestation. Since independence, the Moroccan government has established several large plantations of this tree surrounding the Mamora Forest. In the rugged highlands south of Essaouira, vast open forests of argan (Argania spinoza) are found. Unique to southwestern Morocco, this tree has a hard fruit that produces a prized cooking oil.

In Morocco, as is common throughout the western Mediterranean region, centuries of human activity have considerably altered the natural vegetation. On many lower mountain slopes, cutting, grazing, and burning the original vegetation have produced an often dense cover of maquis, or scrub growth, characterized by various associations of wild olive, mastic tree, kermes oak (Quercus coccinea), arbutus, heather, myrtle, artemisia, cytisus (Medicago arborea), broom, and rosemary. In the arid interior plains, the dwarf palm, jujube tree, esparto grass, and Barbary fig (introduced from the Americas by way of Spain in the 16th century) cover vast areas. There is little natural vegetation in the desert areas east of the mountains, although the date palm, introduced to Morocco at a very early period, is extensively cultivated in the desert oases.

Large game has been progressively eliminated in Morocco since Roman times, when lions and elephants were still abundant. Both have long since disappeared. Gazelles are still seen occasionally in the south, as are mouflons (wild sheep) and fennecs (a type of fox) in the Atlas region. With government protection, the Barbary macaque now flourishes in the forests of the Middle Atlas. However, the richest fauna in Morocco today is the bird life. Large migratory birds that sojourn in Morocco include the stork, which picturesquely builds its nests on city ramparts and mosque rooftops, and the flamingo, pelican, and cattle egret.